Echoes of the soul: Exploring the Human Experience

By Dorcas Mbuyi Image created with AI (ChatGPT by OpenAI, April 2025) A constitution is a country’s highest legal authority, a social contract between the government and its citizens. It lays the foundation for governance, guarantees fundamental rights, and sets boundaries for power. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the 2006 Constitution promised a new era after decades of war and instability. But over the years, that promise has been broken. Constitution violations have become common, exposing deep flaws in the nation’s political system and weakening the rule of law.   The DRC’s 2006 Constitution emerged from the peace process following the second Congo War, the deadliest conflict since World War 2, with an estimated 5.4 million lives lost ( International Rescue Committee, 2008 ). The constitution established a semi-presidential system, limited the president to two five-year terms, and enshrined civil liberties such as freedom of expression and assembly.   I...

  The glimmers of graduation I remember how eager I was to get into University (Uni). My desire was to study law and finally look like the woman I envisioned myself to be in my head. Unfortunately, not all my dreams came to pass. The life I thought I was meant to have and fight for was nowhere to be found. Many adjustments needed to be made. Ultimately, my life started falling into place according to God’s timeline. Picture credit: Dorcas Mbuyi. Featuring Zainab and Sesona. (This was during my first few years of high school.)   In  2016, there I was, finally admitted into high school after being told by a psychologist that I wasn’t smart enough to finish school. I can’t begin to describe the excitement that wrapped itself in my soul. My excitement was due to two reasons: I got into my dream high school, and I proved the psychologist wrong. Maybe I wasn’t as dumb as I thought after all. Although being a junior wasn’t as easy as I thought, I thoroughly enjoyed my tim...

  image credit: Dorcas Mbuyi  Written by: Dorcas Mbuyi       I grew up quite shy, but I wasn’t born that way. Circumstances made me identify that way. As a child, I was fearless, outspoken, and full of life. But somewhere along the way, I started retreating into myself. Maybe it was the weight of people’s opinions, the quiet fear of being misunderstood, or the subtle ways of life teach us to shrink. Whatever it was, by the time I was grown, I had mastered the art of staying in the background never too loud, never too seen. I assumed this was just who I had become, but God knew otherwise.   Then, one day, seemingly out of nowhere, I had this random urge to start recording myself while cooking. It didn’t make sense at first. I wasn’t a professional chef, and I had never been one to put myself in front of a camera. But something about it felt natural, almost freeing. The more I recorded, the more I fell in love with the process not just with c...

  Cooking is more than a chore; it’s a chance to explore creativity, celebrate flavours, and nourish the soul. A while back, I prepared a dish that embodies this philosophy—a hearty, colorful plate that’s as satisfying to the palate as it is to the eyes. On one side of the plate, you'll find creamy mashed potatoes, perfectly smooth and drizzled with melted butter. The slight hint of pepper and salt in the mash creates a velvety, comforting experience with every bite. Next to it are sweet potato medallions, roasted to perfection. Their natural sweetness was enhanced with a light seasoning before they turned beautifully golden in the oven. The sweetness of the medallions is balanced by roasted carrot sticks, coated in a subtle blend of spices to create a tender, smoky flavor. I went with sautéed beef strips mixed with onions and green bell peppers for protein. The beef was cooked until tender, blending harmoniously with the caramelized onions and the crunch of the bell peppers. The s...

                           Image credit: Tonton Laval - YouTube In the heart of Kinshasa, commune de Ngamba stands as a stark testament to government neglect. Once a place of promise, it has become a community plagued by poverty, health crises, and a lack of basic infrastructure. The absence of essential services like electricity, clean water, and proper waste management has turned Ngamba into a symbol of despair. For the thousands who call it home, every day is a fight for survival.   A community on the brink Ngamba’s narrow pathway are choked with uncollected waste, creating an environment ripe for disease. Pools of stagnant water dot the landscape, becoming breeding grounds for mosquitos and waterborne illnesses. Families live in makeshift shelters surrounded by debris, cut from basic sanitation. Years of governmental mismanagement have left residents without the resources needed to lead dignified lives...

                        By: Dorcas Mbuyi   The struggles most students face during and after graduation. A picture of the University of Free State, Bloemfontein campus.   Success has many definitions depending on how we perceive it. Whether you are a straight-A student or not, success plays a vital role in students' lives. However, we grew up or were taught that to get the best jobs, you needed to be a top-performing student. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case today, top performing students are sitting at home with degrees and no jobs. What is the purpose of spending years fighting for a qualification that will get you nowhere? I believe that many students are studying and fearing whether once they cross that stage, they will be able to find employment. According to Stats SA, in the first quarter of the year 2023, 32,9 % of people are said to be unemployed in South Africa ( https://tradingeconomics.com/south-afri...